10 Films That Embellished Who Actually Made Them

Who You Probably Thought Made It: Tobe Hooper

Who Really Made It: Steven Spielberg

There’s no doubting that classic 80s horror Poltergeist was the brainchild of Steven Spielberg. He came up with the story, co-wrote the screenplay and produced it after all, but if Hollywood legend is to be believed his work on set extended even beyond those pretty hands-on roles.

Rumour has it that as Spielberg was contractually obliged to direct E.T. the Extraterrestrial as Poltergeist was going into production he essentially took on Tobe Hooper as a hired gun to make sure Poltergeist got made but was nevertheless very involved in the day-to-day making of the movie.

It’s practically been confirmed by many a cast and crew member that Spielberg did a lot more in the way of directing than Hooper did. Even Spielberg himself slipped up and all but admitted he was Poltergeist’s de facto director in a 1982 interview with the LA Times before the film’s release, stating:

"Tobe isn't what you'd call a take-charge sort of guy. He's just not a strong presence on a movie set. If a question was asked and an answer wasn't immediately forthcoming, I'd jump up and say what we could do. Tobe would nod agreement, and that became the process of the collaboration.”

Sounds more like a puppet master and his marionette than a collaboration, but if you insist Mr Spielberg.

The rumours of his over-involvement were so persistent that even the Directors Guild of America investigated the matter upon which Spielberg started downplaying his role and pushing Hooper as Poltergeist’s director. We all know the truth though.